Mississippi DA On Blogger Break In: Others Knew Of Video’s Making

There are people other than the four men already charged who knew about the video made by political blogger “Constitutional Clayton” Kelly that included the image of Sen. Thad Cochran’s (R-MS) wife before the video went up online, according to Madison, Mississippi District Attorney Michael Guest.

That video, and the inclusion of the image of Cochran’s wife, Rose, resulted in the arrest of Kelly and three other men in relation to Kelly planning to go and take Rose Cochran’s image at the nursing home where she has been bedridden. All men face felony charges. Kelly supported Cochran’s primary opponent, state Sen. Chris McDaniel (R).

“There is definitely a potential that others could be charged in this matter, but at this point I’m being very careful on making comments about possible further arrests,” Guest said according to The Clarion-Ledger.

“It is clear there were individuals other than those charged who were aware a video was being made and would be published as part of an ongoing Senate campaign,” Guest continued. “The crime is not a video hit piece. The crime is in going into the room of Rose Cochran and taking photos. Who knew what and when they knew it, that is irrelevant as far as [the investigation] is concerned.”

Guest did not identify who the other people who knew about the video are. He also said that “just the knowledge of it is not a crime.”